Observe how movement makes technique and unbalancing easier, and a lack of movement
makes everything harder.

Observe how blocks and initial movements can be changed to break out of ruts.

Observe how crisp everything looks.

Observe how some tests look better than others. There is the visual indication marker:
“Yep, that looks like a black belt to me.”

One Final Point: When you’re standing on the “X” ~ Don’t over think it! My experience
has been that the more I think about doing a certain technique (or not doing a certain
technique, or not getting hit, etc.) the less fluidly I perform whatever it is I
was trying to do.

For me, it generally works best to move first, take uke’s balance, and then perform
whatever technique I have available to an unbalanced uke. I know I’m doing it wrong
when I have to apply too much pressure to a technique to get it to work. This is
patently obvious on “timing” techniques like “Slap to the Side of the Head.” When
things are clicking on Slap to the Side of the Head, I am able to lead uke to the
mat without measurable effort ~ and barely even making physical contact with uke’s
head.

Uke’s attack was a backhand strike, which I parried well, stepping back with Tenshin
movement to effectively unbalance Uke.... Then I undercut him with an evolved application.
It’s a cross between a Body Block, Pivot Over the Back, Back Breaker, with a little
Muggers Throw thrown in for fun.

While the fall is surprisingly easy, it’s still not a technique you want to bust
out on someone with out confidence in their ukemi abilities.

Before my attack line test, I did this technique on every attacker to make sure they
were ready for it.